Nonskid attachment for shoes



April 1943- s. L. GINGQ 2,316,062

NONSKID ATTACHMENT FOR SHOES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1941 J/pkeal67/17 0,

April 6, 1943.

NONSKID ATTACHMENT FOR snoss Filed Jan. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Shh/11? l G/hyo,

s. 1.. GINGO 2,316,062

Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v 2,316,062 NONSKIDATTACHMENT FOR SHOES Stephen L. Gingo, McKeesport, Pa. ApplicationJanuary ii, 1941, Serial No. 373,663

2 Claims.

.The present invention relates generally to a non-skid attachment forshoes or the like.

All non-skid attachments of the class in question, with which I amfamiliar, are highly objectionable for all practical purposes, forvarious reasons. The first and more important is the fact that by virtueof their size and cumbersome construction they cannot be worn withcomfort, and greatly interfere with the proper and natural bending ofthe foot while walking. Equally objectionable is the fact that they notonly cover the major portion of the sole of the shoe, and yet provideonly a comparatively small degree of nonskid protection, but employmeans for securing the attachment to the shoe which not only causesdiscomfort to the wearer, but also seriously mars the finish or surfaceof the shoe itself.

Therefore, the primary object of the instant invention resides in theprovision of a non-skid attachment of the character mentioned, whicheliminates all of the above noted objections, and provides one which issimplier in constructions, more sturdy and compact, and capable of beingmanufactured and sold at a nominal cost.

One of the chief characteristics of the present invention resides in theprovision of a non-skid attachment for shoes designed to afford maximumnon-skid protection with a minimum of non-skid surface area, thusallowing freedom for the natural bending of the foot while walking.

In carrying out my invention, I also provide a novel means for firmlysecuring the attachment to the shoe in a manner which eliminates alldiscomfort to the wearer, protecting the surface of the shoe from beingmarred or injured, and at l the same time permit the attachment to bequickly and conveniently secured to or removed from the shoe as theoccasion might require.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear when thefollowing detail description is read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a shoe showing by dotted linesthe attachment associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the attachment removed from the shoe.

Figure 4 is a front end elevation of the attachment showing it appliedto a shoe.

Figure 5 is a view of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Before entering into a detail description of what is herein illustrated,I desire to have it understood that the present invention is capable ofbeing used in various capacities, and may be employed to convert theordinary shoes into hiking or golf shoes, while proper kinds of cleatsmay be employed to permit use of the invention for safe walking over ilypipes or surfaces, as encountered in the pipe industry. Consequently, itis to be understood that a general application of the invention iscontemplated by the claims.

Referring to the drawings in detail, In and H indicate the respectivesections of the attach ment. Each of these sections carry a number ofcleats [2 of any desired character, depending of course upon theparticular use for which the attachment is to be employed. These cleatsmay be attached or secured to their respective sections in any suitablemanner, although in accordance with the specific embodiment of theinvention herein illustrated, the cleats l2 are stamped from the sectionand are preferably of the contour shown.

The sections Ill and H are relatively adjustable to vary the size of theattachment, so that the latter can readily accommodate itself to shoesof different size and style. While this adjustment may be accomplishedin any suitable manner, I preferably provide the section II with atongue l3 having spaced parallel slots I l. The tongue l3 reposes uponthe section I0 and is adapted to be held fixed relatively thereto in anygiven position by suitable fastening elements 15 carried by the sectionI0 and received by the slots ll of the section I I.

As hereinabove stated, one of the chief characteristics of the instantinvention resides in the comparatively narrow elongated contour of theattachment as a whole, whereby maximum nonskid protection is obtainedwith a minimum of non-skid surface area. Manifestly, the attachment isadapted to extend across the sole of the shoe, and is designed to permitof its application thereto at preferably the angle as shown, not onlyfor the purpose just mentioned, but also to allow for perfect freedomand natural bending of the foot while walking. Consequently, in order toattain these objects, the outer end of each section is slightly curvedtransversely as illustrated, while rising from each curved end is a shoesole engaging clip. Each clip includes a vertical flange 16 and aright-angularly disposed inwardly extending flange H. These clips may besecured to the sole of the shoe in any suitable manner, but I preferablyemploy tightening screws l8 carried by the flanges ll. It will be notedthat these tightening screws are arranged at suitable angles to permitof their use without allowing them to contact or mar the upper of theshoe. By virtue of this construction, the attachment may not only bemore effectively secured to the shoe with a minimum of time and effort,but also eliminates the use of straps and other analogous fasteningmeans which not only causes discomfort to the wearer, but frequentlymars or damages the upper of the shoe. Furthermore, the presentinvention is designed to permit the attachment as a whole to be readilyand conveniently associated with or removed from the shoe as theoccasion may require.

In Figure 5 I have illustrated a slight modification of section I I. Inthis view the section is indicated at H and is provided with arelativelynarrow tongue 13' having a single slot M. The section isprovided with cleats i2 and a sole engaging clip including the verticalflange i6 and horizontally flange ll, the latter carrying the angularlydisposed fastening screws l8. This embodiment of the invention is thesame as that hereinabove described, with the exception of the relativelynarrow tongue having a single slot, which not only permits the sectionto be adjusted toward and away from its associated section, but alsopermits of slight pivotal movement of the section II in its adjustmentto acc mmodate a shoe of any particular size or style.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to haveit understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown ordescribed, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fallwithin the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A non-skid attachment for shoes, comprising a comparatively narrowelongated device adapted to extend at an angle across the sole of theshoe to provide maximum non-skid protection with a minimum of non-skidsurface area, said device including relatively adjustable overlappingsections, means for holding said sections fixed relatively in any givenposition, cleats carried by said sections, sole engaging clips risingfrom the outer ends of the sections, and sole engaging clamping screwsmounted on the clips at an angle thereto.

2. A non-skid attachment for shoes, comprising a comparatively narrowelongated device adaptedto extend at an oblique angle across the sole ofthe shoe, said devic including relatively adjustable sections, eachincluding parallel 1ongitudinal edges, and a curved outer edge, soleengaging clips carried by the outer edges of the respective sections andwhollydisposed between said parallel edges thereof, means for holdingsaid sections fixed relatively, cleats carried by each section, andmeans for securing the device to the shoe.

STEPHEN L. GINGO.

